Why Do People Kiss The Blarney Stone?

Have you ever wondered what's the story behind the Blarney Stone?

What's all the fuss about landing a big smacker on a cold, inert lump of stone?

And how on God's good earth can a stone bestow the gift of eloquence?

What does it mean when you kiss the Blarney Stone?

Where is this famous stone and how do you actually kiss it?

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Well, fear not! Today's post will answer some, or maybe even all, of these questions about Ireland's famous Blarney Stone located in County Cork, and provide some insight into all this kissing hoopla.

And I promise, I'll try not to overload you with a load of old blarney as we navigate the myths and legends behind this famous Irish landmark.

Table of Contents

Located Atop A Castle

For many visitors, it comes as quite a surprise to learn the Blarney Stone is not rooted solidly in ground level Irish sod, but is actually situated on top of an old Irish castle.

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That's right - the stone is wedged right into the walls of an old medieval fortress, Blarney Castle, originally built, way back over 500 years ago, by the powerful MacCarthy clan from Cork.

Today, the interior of the castle lies in ruin. But the walls stand firm, to allow visitors climb to the battlements in search of the stone. I like the fact the castle has not been renovated. It adds to the ancient mysticism of the site. 

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Kissing the stone first became popular in the 1800's. For over two centuries visitors have sought out this stone in search of storytelling prowess, or as the Irish like to say, the gift of the gab.

Anyone who puckers up and lands a smooch on this famous piece of bluestone rock will be bestowed with the gift of eloquence.

Kissed by rich and poor, young and old, famous and not-so-famous, the millions of kissing pilgrims over the past two hundred years, have one thing in common - they came in search of blarney.

But What Is Blarney

Blarney is a word to describe the gift of the gab, but the Stone of Eloquence does not bestow mere baloney or waffling speech.

There is something far deeper to real blarney - a wit and wisdom, a glib genius and turn-of-phrase many Irish are renowned to possess.

An Irish politician John O'Connor Power summed it up beautifully ...

Winston Churchill, world renowned for his oration skills, kissed the stone back in 1912. Here's a snippet from the Washington Post describing the power of blarney bestowed upon Mr. Chruchill ....

Origins of the Blarney Stone

Another story tells how Queen Elizabeth I ordered the Earl of Leicester to seize Blarney Castle from its Irish owner Cormac Teigue MacCarthy. But Cormac, through his gift of the gab, was up to the task of thwarting the Earl.

McCarthy or MacCarthy pleaded with the Goddess Clíodhna to help him speak on behalf of his people and convince the British to allow him retain his castle.

Whenever they met for negotiations MacCarthy distracted the Earl with banquets, entertainment and chat. The castle was never taken, and apparently the queen herself remarked the Earl's reports on his progress were nothing but "blarney".

And so, few dispute the stone's powers, and what a gift it is to be able to speak a little blarney, but how and why this piece of bluestone came to be ensconced atop the battlements of a medieval keep in county Cork is another story altogether.

Myths and legends abound explaining how this came to be, but the true answer may always elude and continue to give rise to debate.

Legends Of Prophets, Saints And Kings

One legend claims the Blarney Stone was actually Jacob’s Pillow, spoken of in the Book of Genesis. The prophet Jeremiah is said to have brought it to Ireland, where it became the "Lia Fáil" (pronounced Leah Fawl), meaning Stone of Destiny, which is closely linked to ancient Irish kings.

The Lia Fail is the stone pillar found on the inauguration mound on the Hill of Tara. Here, the High Kings of Ireland were crowned. An ancient stone still stands on the Hill of Tara, but some believe the Blarney Stone to be the true Lia Fáil.

Another myth claims the stone was St. Columba's deathbed pillow. He died on the island of Iona and after his death the stone was moved to mainland Scotland. There it became the Scottish Stone of Destiny.

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Now the Scottish Stone of Destiny made its way back to Ireland as a gift from Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, to Cormac McCarthy, King of Munster, and owner of Blarney Castle.

You see, Cormac didn't like the English much, so he sent five thousand of his men over to Scotland to help Robert the Bruce defeat the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.  

To show his gratitude to Cormac, Robert split the Stone of Destiny and the portion we kiss today was transported back to Cork by Cormac to find a home in the walls of his MacCarthy castle. The Stone of Destiny was the site of coronation for Scottish kings for centuries.

Another legend claims the stone may have been brought back to Ireland from the Crusades. This tale claims it is the "Stone of Ezel." This is the biblical stone behind which David hid to escape his enemy, Saul.

Another biblical origin sometimes proposed, is that this is the stone which gushed water upon being struck by Moses.

To try to answer the question as to the origins of this famous kissing stone, geologists from the Univerity of Glasgow studied the composition of the rock.

They reached the conclusion that the stone is old limestone, that's over 330 million years old. This type of rock is not found in Scotland, but is found locally in the south of Ireland and County Cork. Perhaps, the stone is Irish after all.

The Queen Of The Banshees

Another legend claims it to be a true Irish stone. When Cormac Láidir MacCarthy (meaning strong Cormac MacCarthy) was building his castle he got involved in a little dispute that required him to appear in court. He said a little prayer to none other than Cliodhna (pronounced Clee-on-nah), the Queen of the Banshees.

Through a dream he received her instructions to kiss the first stone he saw on his way to the courthouse, which he duly did. He then proceeded to speak with such eloquence he won his court case. The stone was brought back to his castle and incorporated into the parapet.

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And there it remains to this very day - just waiting to be kissed. But only if you're strong enough, brave enough and, believe me, only if you're agile enough to complete the task.

Kissing The Blarney Stone - A Feat Of Endurance

Kissing the Blarney Stone is a feat of endurance and not for the faint of heart.

First you must huff and puff your way up 127 steep steps to reach the very parapets of the castle walls. Then, when you finally recover from your endurance test, a little gymnastics are in order.

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You must lie on your back and then twist your spine and neck into extreme extension, then pucker those lips, to land a smooch bang smack right in the middle of the infamous stone.

And beware if you don't have a head for heights. You can even see the ground, over 100 feet below, as you lean backwards.

Today a well trained and well practiced attendant helps all hopeful kissers to contort their spines into the requisite position, and luckily an iron railing has been placed to prevent any mishaps. Such was not the case years ago, and would-be kissers have succumbed to gravity, falling to their deaths in pursuit of eloquence.

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And if you're a germaphobe, good luck to you. On busy summer days over one thousand visitors pucker up to land their lips on this smooth and shiny slab of bluestone. If, for even one moment, you allow a thought of all that slobber cross your mind, you'll never manage to purse those lips.

But if you're anything like me, you'll just throw caution to the wind and kiss that flag. The gift of the gab is so worth the risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may still have a few more questions about visiting Blarney. I hope you'll find an answer here.

Is kissing the Blarney Stone safe and sanitary? Do they clean the Blarney Stone?

The cleaning protocols for the Blarney Stone have been revised and imporved over the past few years. The stone is cleaned each time someone kisses it, using a World Health Organization approved cleanser.

The whole site is cleaned regularly including the railings, ropes and surfaces that are frequently touched.

Do you need a ticket to kiss the Blarney Stone?

Visiting the Blarney Stone is not free.

You need to purchase a ticket to visit Blarney Castle and Gardens. You are then welcome to climb to the top of the castle to kiss the stone, but only if you wish to. There's no obligation on any visitor to pucker up.

A Little Poetry To End Our Blarney

And so as a final tribute to the power of the Blarney Stone, I thought I would quote Francis Sylvester Mahony, an Irish bard of the early nineteenth century, who wrote:

Don't Forget To Check Out The Gardens

Now many tourists to Blarney get so carried away with kissing the famous stone, they miss out on one of the highlights of a visit to the castle.

The grounds surrounding the castle are magical. So if your itinerary allows, take a little stroll through the 60 acres of parklands and discover all that Blarney has to offer.

And so I hope, as you explore the landmarks of Ireland, you may discover the enchantment that makes Ireland so captivating. And remember, Blarney is a spot where myth and legend await. 

Wishing you all happy travels in Ireland.

If you enjoyed this installment, then here are some other ramblings you might enjoy ….

Barley Cove Beach, County Cork

Drombeg Stone Circle

Irish Famine Burial Pits in Skibbereen